It has become known what issues the Azerbaijani-Kazakh intergovernmental commission managed to coordinate on the eve of the official visit of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to Kazakhstan on April 10. In particular, at a meeting of the intergovernmental commission in Baku on April 7 the parties agreed to raise the volume of intermodal rail freight on the route Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan-Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan-Turkey/Europe-Kazakhstan transit via Baku with attraction of new cargo in these directions. As part of the development of the Middle Corridor, the parties agreed to take measures to boost the capacity of the ports of Baku, Aktau and Kuryk. Baku and Astana have agreed to hold as soon as possible the third meeting of the working groups on the implementation of transportation of Kazakh oil and oil products in transit through Azerbaijan (transit of 1.5 million tons of oil through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline in 2023 from the fields Tengiz, Kashagan and Karachaganak has been negotiated, other possibilities for transit are on the table), as well as supplies of any oil products and liquefied gas from Kazakhstan to Baku. As an informed source explained to Turan, Baku is unlikely to buy or provide transit of liquefied gas. As for the import or transit of Kazakh oil products, everything will depend on the commercial attractiveness of the proposals. The parties are also interested in the participation of companies from both states in the RES auctions. The Kazakh side stressed the need for continued cooperation in the transit of uranium products through Azerbaijan (!). When it comes to information and technological sphere, the parties agreed that the joint strategic telecommunications corridor between Europe and Asia across the Caspian will be implemented by “AzerTelecom” and “KazakhTelecom” within the framework of the “Digital Silk Road” project. Also promising are directions of cooperation between the aerospace committee of the Kazakh Ministry for Digital Development and “AzerCosmos” space agency under the Azerbaijani Ministry for Digital Development (the parties may come to an agreement in October 2023 during the 74th International Astronautics Congress in Baku). In the agricultural sector there will be exchange of information on products with export potential, as well as the exchange of experience in the field of horse and sheep breeding and veterinary issues. On transport – JSC ESC “KazakhExport” offered the Azerbaijani side, in case of purchase of Kazakh locomotives and other high-tech products, works or services, to use the possibility of subsidizing the interest rate for financing in Kazakhstan’s banks of the second level. JSC “Development Bank of Kazakhstan” under the insurance coverage of JSC “KazakhExport” up to the level of the CIRR rate for financing in US dollars, Euro or up to 50% of the base rate of the National Bank of Kazakhstan. Note that Kazakhstan’s investments can be involved in the process of rehabilitation and sustainable development of the liberated territories of Azerbaijan. The issue of expediency of conclusion of an agreement in the sphere of pension provision will be studied. The sides also recognized it important to develop cooperation in healthcare, education and culture. A study tour to Azerbaijan will be organized for Kazakh experts in the field of tourism. Interaction of diaspora will be continued. The next, 20th IGC meeting of both states will be held in 2024 in Astana.

Source: Turan News Agency